Amusement apparatus.



W. PIMANGELS.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

7 APPLICATION FILED- {UNE 2 6, 1914. L1g8 89 Patented Feb. 16, 1915. I

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BY v I v I 11 TTORNEYS W. F .MAN-GBLS.

v AMUSEMENT APPARATUS. APPLICATION EILED' JUNE 2s,'

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

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AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

APYLIGATION FILED JUNE 26, 1914 1,1 Z QQ Patented'Feb. 16, 1915.

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A 7TORNEY8 W F. MANGELS. AMUSEMENT AEP ARATUSV APYLiOATIOn' FILED-1951111326, 191$.

P'atnted Feb. 18, 1915.

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Specification 02 Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 16, 3215,

Application filed nine ee, 1914. Serial in. stress.

To all "wlwm't may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. MAH- IGELS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, Coney Island, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Amusement Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to, an amusement device adapted for popular resonts and is of that type in which passengers-ride in a car which hasa predetermined motion tending to produce amusement and merriment for the occupants and spectators.

The invention has for its general objects to provide anovel amusementapparatus which is of comparatively simple construction, occupies relatively little space and is thoroughly reliable and safe in operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a track along which the passenger cars travel, the track having alternate-straight portions and turns, curves orcorners, in combination with a car-driving means, such as an endless chain, to which the cars are independently connected, so that each car will trail along the straight por tions of the track and acquire a quick cen-- trifugal motion in passing around the curves, turns or corners, the suddenness of which causes agitation or commotion of the occupants, and hence much merriment and amusement, and as the car passes the turn, curve or corner it will again take up a trailing position until another turn, curve or corner is encountered, so that broadly the invention contemplates an endless chain or other traveler having a constant speed of travel and one or more cars connected therewith .in such a manner that each car will have a trailing motion followed by a quick, outward centrifugal swing succeeded by another relatively slow trailing motion, and so on until the apparatus is brought to a stop.

Another object of the invention is the provision ,of a simple, effective and novel attaching means between the endless chain or driver and the cars, whereby the cars are cushioned in passing through a cycle from a trailing position through an outward swinging centrifugal position and liack againto trailing position, so that over-travel of the car during the, outward centrifugal swing will be prevented and smooth runis attached so that, as an arm on the chain passes around a curve, turn or corner, the

outer end of the arm will travel at a greater rate of speed than the inner end to thereby cause a centrifugal action of the car in passing a curve, .turn or corner.

An additional object is to provide connecting means between each car and its associated arm on the-driving chain, such means including a swinging tongue or link connected with the arm and a brace connected withthe rear portion of the-tongue and slidably connected with the arm, and said car being pivotally connected with the tongue and having yielding means for allowing of a limited swinging movement of the car on the tongue in the movement of the tar passing through a cycle of movements as the'car passes around a curve, turn or corner of the, track.

-The invention has as a further object the provision of a modified form of the invention wherein the floor on which the car is moved is provided with an endless slot through which'studs extend upwardlyfrom a driving means under the fioor, and to the studs are connected passenger cars, which in finishing an evolution in passing around a turn, curve or corner, make and describe, due to the momentum acquired, a loop before again assuming a trailing position.

With such objects in view, and others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be set forth with particularity in the following description and claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate certain embodiments of the" invention, and. wherein similancharactcrs of reference indicate correspondingv parts in all the views, Figure-1 is a plan'view of the complete amusement apparatus; Fig. ,2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2,

Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the and the driving chain; Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of a, modified form of the invention, wherein the driving means is located under the floor and the latter is provided Withan endless slot through which connection is made between the driving means and cars; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of guide means for the car driv ng chain; Figs/Z, 8 and 9 are further modifications of chain driving means and Fig. 10 is a lan view of the modification of: a compl te fioor embodying the construction shown in Fig. 5. j

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, A designates a horizontal floor that constitutes a course over which'the passenger cars B are adaptedto travelin assing around a central raised platform Extending around this raised lattorm is an endless chain D which constitutes the car-driving means, and at one end of the platform is a large sprocket wheel 1 which supplies the ower to the chain, and at the apposite on 'is a guide wheel or idler 2. gllhe vertical walls 3 of the platform serve to guide the portions of the chain between the wheels 1 and 2,

and these walls slightly diverge from each" wheel toward the center of the platform, so that the chain will run in contact with the walls and prevent lateral flapping as the chain is driven. Any suitable means may be employed for driving the chain, as, for instance, a rack-4, on Fig. 2, disposed under and connected with the sprocket wheel 1, and meshing with the circular rack 4 is a pinion 5 on a vertical shaft'G, which vcrtical shaft is connected by a bevel gearing 7 with a horizontal shaft 8 connected with a prime mover or other suitable source of power. The floor or course A may have stairs 9 to provide access to and from the car. i I

The cars B are of any desired construction and comprise a base or platform- 10 which is provided with a pair of front casters l1 and a pair of rear casters 12 which are swivclcd so as to permit a car to move freely in different directions on the lfloor or course A. Each car has a seat 13 for the passengers and a handle bar 14 shown in Figs. 2 and 4- is provided forthe passengers to grasp so as to hold themselves as the car is thrown violently outwardly by centrifugal force, in passing around curves, turns or bonds the course.

' The means E for connecting each car with the driving chain l) compr cs a horizontally extending :mu. l5, mini-n i'orward brace 16, a trailing tougrn; or link 17, and i rear axle brace 18. The arm l5, shown in Fig. i, has its inner and pivolnlly connected at 19 with the driving chain D, and. on the outer end of the arm 1. is a head-piece 20 to which the brace 16 tongue 1'! are pivotally connected at 21 and 22, respectively, and inwardly of the head-piece 20 is a'roller or Wheel 23 "which rides on the floor A and supports the arm and its associated parts "16, 17 and 18 off the said, floor. On the forward .part of the car platform 10 area pair of plates 24, and between them extends the rear end of the brace 18, which rear end is connected to the plates 24 by a bolt or king-pin 253. This kingpin passes through "the'link or" tongue 17 so as to connect the latter'with the car, but the tongue extends ,rearwardly beyond. the king-pin or bolt 25,

and its rear end 26 is connected with the forward end of a still helical extension spring 27'which hasits rear end adjustably connected, by a bolt or the like 28 with a bracket 29 on the bottom of the car, said spring extending longitudinally of the car and serving to hold the same centralized with respect to the tongue 17, but allowing the car to swing through a limited are about the king-bolt 25 as a center, which'swinging movement'is indicatedby the dot and dash line position at, Fig. 4, and the broken line position'q. The-front end of the brace 18 is pivotallyconnected at 30 with a collar 31 slidable hn the arm 15, and this collar is movable into engagement with spring abutments 32 and-33 arranged on the inner and outer ends'of the arm 15 for yi'eldingly limiting the movement of the car inwardly toward the chain from normal position, or

outwardly from such position.

along plat orm O are carried along in a trailing to move at its normal rate, and by reason of this centrifugal force is brought\ into play, which causes the car to swing with considerable power outwardly about the in otal connection 22 between the arml5 and the tongue 1'7, and in this movement the collar 31 of the brace 18 slides outwardly and presses the spring 33, which, by its in-'; creasing tension, will cushion the movement produced. bv When the tongue 1? limit, the car, by reason of its momentum, will swing on the king-bolt 25 as a center, whereby the spring 27 is placed under tension, which will eventually react and bring the ca back to centralized position with respect to the tongue. As the car continues to make a sweep around-the wheel 1 or 2. the

a the centrifugal fiorceli swings outwardly to itsand 15 will finally assume a position where masses will move the car centripetally or toward the chain, and durum this movement the collar 31 of the brac ltet 18 will slide in-' wardly on the arm 15, and the momentum of the inwardly-moving car will engage the collar 31 with the spring 32, which act-s as a butter LO preventshock as the car swings inwardly, As thoarm moves in a straight line from either wheel 1 or 2, the car, which has just gone through the can 'Jgar and centripetal movements, will autically return to a trailing position, the longitudinal axis of the car directly behind the outer end oi the arm 15. This position will be maintained until the oppo' end of the chain is reached, when the site car will again go through a cycle of centr1fugal and centripetal movements.

in the modification shown in Fig. 6, an

. elliptical endless car driving chain is shown,-

but instead of having large wheels at the ends a number of small idlers 35 are employed, whereby the curves maybe made on a. greater radius. The chzihr isdriven in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by a driving sprocket wheel 36 driven by suitahle means 37 from a motor 38. In Fig. 7 the carriage driving chain D is so guided as to follow the course of an isosceles triangle, while in Fig. 8 it ta res the form of an equilateral triangle, an in'Fig. 9 the form of 'a rhombus, but it is to be understood that various other lines of travel may be employed. At the wheels d comparatively sharp angles are formed so that the cars will be thrown outwith considerable centrifugal force as these corners or angles are passed in the transit of the cars.

in the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 1 0 the iioor A is provided with an endless slot 39, and upwardly through this slot extend studs 40. These studs 40 are connected with an endles chain i1 which runs in a channel 42- formed by oppositely-disposed channel-irons 43, and on each stud 40 are guide rollers 44 which engage the flanges 45 of the channel irons. These channel irons of course follow the contour of the slot 39 in the floor AC The cars ll are connected by link cars 46 with the upper ends of the studs -10 in such a manner that the link bars can swing around the studs as centers. It will be observed that as the cars are connected with the driving chain simply by the studs and link bars without any restraining devices, such are shown in the form of the invention first described, the cars are free to (o'er-travel, as shown in Fig. 10, at the latter part of the centrifugal action, due

to the cars passing around the curves at the ends of the course formed by the slot 39. As the car travels along the straight part of the course it will trail behind its stud 40 or. urn will cause thecar to tend to conthe curve is encountered, when the 1110- tinue its straight movement, and at this point centrifugal force comes into play to throw tiie car outwardly, and if the speed of travel is great enough the. car will describe a loop, shown by the broken lines, Fig.

10, before it again assumes a trailing position. The car is freeto make a loop, as the portions of the floor at both sides of the slot are on a level, so that the car is free to travel back and forth across the slot without interference. Obviously, the course of the car can be varied by changing the shape oi the slot, as may lie-found desirable.

-gFrom the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, 'the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily under-' ters Patent:

1. An amusement device comprising a course having one or more turns, a driving means extending along the course, and a car loosely connected with the driving means to travel in a trailing position in approaching 'and after passing the turn or turns and adapted to swing out centrifugally in moving around the turn or turns.

3. An amusement device of the class described, comprisiug a course having one or more curves connected by straight portions, :1 driving means extending along the course, a passenger car, and means 'for connecting the car to thmdriving means to permit the car to trail along the straight portionsof the course and to swing outwardly by contrifugal r'orce in passing around a turn.

3. An amusement device comprising 'an endless course having a plurality of curves and approximately straight between adjacent curves,a driving means extending along the course, a plurality of cars, and links pivotally connected with the driving means and with the cars for permitting the cars to trail \yhile traveling along the straight portions of the course and to swing outwardly as the cars pass around the first part of the curve and inwardly as a carpasses from the curve to a straight portion of the track.

t. An amusement device comprising an endless driving element having a plurality of curves, arms extending outwardly therefrom, a car associated with each arm, and means for loosely connecting each car with its associated arm.

5.An. amusement device comprising a course having a plurality of turnswvith inciated car.

driving means moving along the course,

arms connected with and extending outwardly from the driving means, a wheel on .each arm and traveling on the said course,

a car associated with each arm, and a link connection between each arm and its asso- 6. An amusement device comprising a floor, an endless driving chain, cars movable over the floor, arms extending outwardly from the said chain, braces between the arms and chain for holding the arms outstanding, rollers on the outer ends of the arms and bearing on the floor, and connections between the arms and carsfor permitting the cars to swing outwardly and in wardly during their travel over the door.

7. An amusement device comprising a' floor, an endless driving chain having a plurality of curves and relatively straight portions between adjacent curves, loraced arms extending outwardly in a horizontal position from the chain, a link hingedly connected with the outer end of each arm, a car pivotally'connected with each link, and means for limiting the swinging movement of the link with respect to the arm.

8. An amusement device comprising a floor, an endless driving chain having a plurality of crimes and relatively straight portions between adjacent curves, braced arms extending outwardly in a horizontal position from the chain, a link hingedly connected with the outer end of each arm, a car pivotally connected with each link, a brace connected with the link and slidably connected with the arm, and bufling devices carried by the arm for limiting the sliding movement of the brace on the said arm as the car swings inwardly and outwardly.

9. An amusement device comprising a driving chain, a guide having one or more curves and on which the chain travels, pivoted arms connected with the chain and extending outwardly therefrom, braces piotally connected with the outer ends of the arms and with the chain at points forwardly of the arms, a trailing tongue or link pivotally connected with the outer end of each arm, a car'pivotully connected with each tongue, and means for limitin the pivotal movement of each tongue on its respective arm.

10. An amusement device comprising a driving chain, a guide having one or more curves and on which the-(main travels, pivoted arm's connected with the chain and extending outwardly therefrom, braces pivotally connected with the'outer cndsof the arms and with the chain at points forwardly of the arms, a trailing tongue or link pivotally connected with the outer end of each arm, a car pivotally connected with each tongue, a collar on each arm, buffers on the driving means w the outer end travels inner and 0 which the collar thereof is adapted to engage, and a brace connected with the, collar of each arm and with the associated tongue. 11. An amusement device comprising a alternate straight portions and intermediate curves, a member connected therewith and r ends of each arm and with uich follows a path havmg 1 end when passing a curve, a tongue pivotally connected with the outer end of the arm, a. car pivotally connected with the tongue, and a spring connected with the car and with the tongue for limiting the pivotal movement of the car on the tongue.

13. An amusement device comprising a driving means which follows a path having alternate straight portions and intermediate curves, 2. member connected therewith and extending outwardly therefrom, whereby the outer end travels faster than the inner 1 end when passing a curve, a tongue pivotally connected with the outer end of the arm, a car pivotally connected with the tongue, means for limiting the pivotal movement of the car with respect to its tongue, and means for limiting the lswinging movement oil the tongue with respect to the said arm.

14. An amusement device con'u'u'isingi a driving means which follows a path having alternate straight portions and intermediate curves, :1 member connected therewith and extending outwardly therefrom, whereby faster than the inner end when passing a curve, a tongue pivotally connected with the outer end of the arm, a car pivotally connected with the tongue, a spring connected with the car and with the tongue for limiting the pivotal movement of the car on the tongue, and means for limiting the swinging movement of the tongue with respect to the said arm.

15. An amusement driving means which follows a path h'a'ving alternate straight portions and intermediate curves. a member connected. therewith and extending outwardly therefrom, whereby the outer end travels faster than the inner end when passing a curve, a car pivotally connected at its front to the tongue at a point intermediate the ends of the latter, and a helical extension spring ltaving its device comprising a the outer end travels faster than the inner the car.

front end connected with the rear end of the tongue andits rear end connected with 16. An amusement device comprising a driving means which follows a path having alternate straight portions and intermediate curves, a member connected therewith and extending outwardly therefrom, whereby end when passing a curve, a car pivotally connected at its front tothe tongue at a point intermediate the ends of the latter, a

portions; means traveling along the slot, and a. car rolling over the floor and connected with the said means, whereby the cartrails as the means travels along the straight portion ofthe slot and acquires a centrifugal or centripetal movement in traveling along a curved portion of the slot.

18. An amusement device comprising a floor having an endless "slot provided with between the turns, an endlessv chain under the fioor,'studs connected with the chain and extending upwardly through the slot, cars adapted to roll over the floor, and a.

1 link connecting each car with a stud.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. v

i WILLIAM FREDERICK melts.

- Witnesses: t v CHUTIEN BRonwAY, Prune D. ROLLHAUS.

a plurality of turns and straight portions Ill 

